Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact)
Analysis
Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Reading. It was registered in May 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00356443). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending March 2026, Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) reported income of £10.5m and spending of £10.3m, spending 98% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £6.3m to £10.5m (+68%), an average of +14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 29%. Over the whole period it spent 107% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Royal College of Pathologists (£10.5m), Theirworld (£10.5m) and County Air Ambulance Trust (£10.5m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 95% and donations and legacies 5.1%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £140k. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 4.2%. Reserves of £1.2m would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 236 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 3.8%
- Legacies 1.3%
- Charitable activities 95%
- Investments 0.2%
In the charity's own words
Pact supports people affected by imprisonment to cope and to make a fresh start, including prisoners, people with convictions, their children and families. Our work reduces harm and reoffending. We work in prisons of all types, in courts and in communities. We reduce the risk of suicide and self-harm, safeguard children and vulnerable adults, and maintain and strengthen family relationships.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Royal College of Pathologists | London | £10.5m |
| Theirworld | London | £10.5m |
| County Air Ambulance Trust | Walsall | £10.5m |
| Cope Childrens Trust | Loughborough | £10.6m |